Drive means for cotton picking spindles



J. JQ BRAMBLETT 2,842,928

DRIVE MEANS FOR COTTON PICKING SPINDLES Original Filed Nov. 9, 1955 2. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, John J. Bramble" BY FIG-.2

July 15, 1958 J. J. BRAM'BLETT 2,842,928

, DRIVE MEANS FOR COTTON PICKING SPINDLES Original Filed Nov. 9.195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 an m:

- INVENTO FIG. 6

153 John J. Bl omblett I, 7W1 d United States Patent DRIVE MEANS non COTTON PICKING SPINDLES John J. Bramblett, Pine Bluff, Ark., assignor to lien Pearson, Incorporated, Pine Blufi, Ark., a corporation of Arkansas Original application November 9, 1955, Serial No. 545,965. Divided and this application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,564

13 Claims. (Cl. 56-42) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in drive means employed in cotton picking machines of the type which includes a plurality of rotatable rod-like spindles for engaging and removing the cotton fiber-from cotton bolls, so-called slat means for carrying and rotatably supporting said spindles, the drive means being provided for effecting cotton picking rotation of the spindles.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 545,965, filed November 9, 1955.

The present invention is primarily directed to providing improved drive means for driving or rotating the cotton picking spindles as they pass through the picking zone in operation of the picking machine.

.The principal object of the present invention is to provide improved drive means for cotton picking spindles.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such improved drive means, an improved drive rail unit for eiiecting rotation of said spindles.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a drive unit, an inflatable and deflatable pneumatic rubber tube for engagement with said spindle assemblies, and means for controlling and supplying air under pressure to said tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and novel means for mounting and supporting drive. rails in a cotton picking machine; and i A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and eficiency of drive means for cotton picking spindles.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cotton picking machine, with parts broken away and removed for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken as on the line IIII of Fig. 4, with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary edge view on a similar scale of the drive rail unit per se.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken .as on the line IVIV of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5 is a top plan view on a smaller scale of a drive rail and supporting bar; and

Fig. 6 is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale of one end of the drive rail and bar of Fig. 5.

Referring nowto the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, a cotton picking machine of the general type in which the present invention may be employed is illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus, the cotton picking machine 11 mayucomprise a frame 13, a housing 15,

and vertically arranged front and rear shafts 16, 17 re- 2,842,928 Patented July 15, 1958 ing machine illustrated. is adapted to be carried by ,a

suitable tractor or the like (not shown), and adapted to be powered by the coupling of rear shaft 17 through a gear box 32 to suitable driving means, such as a drive shaft 32A'which may be driven by the tractor powerunit. All of the foregoing elements of the cotton picking machine, being of usual construction, are intended for illustration only and not as limitation, since the present invention resides in the means for driving the spindles and in the relationship of these elements to other related elements.

A plurality of vertically extending and horizontally spaced slats 33 of the present invention are interposed between upper and lower chains 25 to form an endless spindle carrier which travels in a longitudinally elongated path. Slats 33 are pivotally connected to upper and lower chains 25 as by hinge means. In the preferred form, each of said hinge means comprises a hinge 35 including an arm 37 having an aperture in which is received a hinge pin 41 of chains 25, wherebythe hinge is pivotally connected to the chains. Extending angularly from arm 37 is an intermediate portion 42. Extending angularly from intermediate portion 42 is an attachment arm 43. Arm 43 is spaced from and substantially parallel to arm 37, but laterally offset therefrom. The outward end of attachment arm 43 is bent substantially perpendicularly to arm 43 to form stop plate 44 having an aperture therethrough, and a bolt 59 extends through the aperture and stop plate 44 and anchors hinges 35 onto slats 33. Each of slats 33 is preferably integrally formed as of aluminum or the like and comprises a vertical body member and a plurality of vertically spaced end bearing means formed integral with and extending inwardly from the body member. Each of said end bearing means preferably comprises an end bearing housing 99 including a pair of laterally spaced legs 101 integrally connected by a base portion 103. An end bearing is'housed in the base portion 103 of each of end bearing housings 99 and suitable intermediate bearings may 'be housed in body 95.

Each of slats 33 is providedwith a plurality of sockets Which extend from the outer face of the slats 33 inwardly through the material of body member 35 and are in communication with a space between legs 101. A plurality of spindle assemblies 121 are respectively rotatably supported in the sockets of slats 33, each of spindle assemblies 121 being journalled in one of the intermediate bearing means and one of the end bearing means. Each of said spindle assemblies 121 includes an elongated wire-like spindle 123 having'a cotton engaging portion 125 extending along a major portion of the length thereof. Additionally, each of spindle assemblies 121 includes a. roller 131 frictionally fitted on spindle 121 and keyed to the spindle against relative rotation. In seated position, it will be understood that roller 131 is interposed between legs 1iil, and it will be seen that the diameter of each of the rollers 131 is greater than the width of each of the legs 101, whereby the rollers will extend above and below the sides of the legs for exposure to and engagement by the drive units.

The drive units just mentioned comprise a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed, elongated pneumatic drive rail units 145, each of which preferably in- .153 of rubber or similar material, supported by' a bar 147 and sections 149, 151. Each of drive rails 145 is supported from standards 18, 19 as by means of a pair of channel brackets 155 attached as by welding to the standards. Forward section 149 is interposed between ,flanges 156 of one of the channel brackets 155, and rearward section 151 is interposed between the flanges 156 of the other of the channel brackets, sections 149, 151

beingrespectively removably secured to the brackets as 'by means of cotter pins 157 which extend through alined apertures in flanges 156 and sections 149, 151.

Supporting bar 147 is provided with a bifurcated outer edge portion 158 between the forks of which is removably mounted a resilient rib of rubber or similarmaterial 159 integrally formed with and projecting from hollow tubing 153. Tubing 153 extends throughout the length of supporting bar 147 between sections 149, 151 and may be removably secured to the supporting bar by screw means 161 extending through alined apertures and bifurcated edge portion 158 and rib 159, or under some conditions they may be otherwise attached as by rivets.

Tubing 153 preferably comprises an elongated hollow tubing of rubber or similar material defining an air chamber 162. The opposite ends of tubing 153 are respectively 'removably attached to sections 149, 151. The means of attachment is best illustrated in the broken away rearward portion of the drive rail in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the forward end of tubing 153 is attached to the forward section 149 in a similar manner, and therefore the rearward end only is described. The

' attaching means comprises a connector plug 165 which is inserted in the end of tubing 153 and attached thereto as by gluing, the other end of the connector plug being slidably received in a socket 167 in the edge of the end section. Connector 165 is held in socket 167 as by means of screw 169 which extends through a cylindrical socket 171 communicating with socket 167 with the end of the screw being threadedly engaged in a threaded socket in the end of connector plug 165, screw 169 being limited in horizontal movement toward tubing 153 by the engagement of the enlarged head of the screw with the shoulder 173 provided in cylindrical socket 171. i

From the foregoing it is apparent that drive rail unit 145 may be easily and conveniently removed from the cotton picking machine for replacement of tubing 153, as when the tubing becomes worn. Thus, to unfasten the drive rail unit for removal thereof it is only necessary to remove cotter pins 157. After removal of unit 145, tubing 153 may be easily unfastened from the supporting means by removing screw means 161, 169 whereby rib 159 may be withdrawn from bifurcated edge portion 158 and connector plugs 165 removed from sockets 167. Conversely, to replace tubing 153 and drive rail unit 145 substantially the reverse of the above described steps are carried out.

Connector plug 165 at the forward end of drive rail 145 is solid in cross section whereby the forward end of tubing 153 is effectively sealed off. The connector plug 165 at the rearward end of drive rail 145 may be provided with an air passageway 175 extending the length of the connector plug. Each of drive rails 145 is connected by a hollow tube 177 to a manifold 179. Tubes 177 are coupled to hollow nipples 181 which are threadedly engaged in the rearward end sections 151. Hollow nipple 181 is communicated with passageway 175 by means of an air duct 183 provided in rearward end section 151, one end of air duct 183 being in alinement with the bore of nipple 181, and the other end of the air duct being in alinement with air passageway 175. From the foregoing it will be understood that manifold 179 is connected to each of air chambers 162 respectively through conduits, each of which comprises a tube 177, a nipple 181, an air duct 183, and air passageway 175.

Manifold 179 is provided with a suitable gauge 185 for determining the air pressure in the manifold, and is also provided with air inlet valve 187 which provides the means by which the manifold may be filled with air, as for example, by a hand air pump (not shown) or other suitable air supply means being connected to air inlet valve 187. By the foregoing, rubber tubing 153 may be inflated with air and maintained at a suitable pressure.

Rollers 131 ride on the tubing 153 of the drive rails in a manner as best illustrated by the upper drive rail in Fig. 4, whereby when slats 133 are moved longitudinally relative to drive rails 145 rollers 131 will be rotated causing rotation of spindles 123. As illustrated, a drive rail 145 is interposed between housings 99 in alternate vertical spacings between the housings. Thus it will be seen that tubing 153 of each drive rail 145 contacts the roller 131 of a spindle assembly 121 above the drive rail and the roller 131 of the spindle assembly below the drive rail whereby the drive rails will effect conjoint, but opposite, rotation of the spindle assemblies contacted thereby.

The end sections 149, 151 are tapered toward their distal ends as at 188, and tubings 153 are tapered adjacent their opposite ends as at 188A, whereby rollers 131 will be gradually guided into and out of engagement with drive rails 145.

The external cross sectional shape of a major portion of each of the tubings 153 is preferably substantially cylindrical when not contacted by rollers 131, as is illustrated in the lower drive rail shown in Fig. 4, which shows the tubing in expanded disposition, the spindle assemblies adjacent thereto having been removed. Although tubing 153 is herein illustrated as cylindrical in cross section, it will be understood that it may be otherwise cross sectionally shaped, such as square, oval or other suitable shapes.

It will be understood that in many circumstances inflation of the tube may be dispensed with, and accordingly the means for supplying air pressure to the interior of tube 153 may be omitted, as for example, by removing tube 177, nipple 181, and the air conduits 183, 175 from section 151.

In other circumstances it has also been found that the end sections 149, 151 may be omitted, and the drive rail comprising tube 153 with its integral radially extending rib 159 secured as by screws 161 to the bifurcated bar 147 substantially in the manner described hereinabove may be utilized. As previously described, the elongated rib 159 is embraced between the forks of the bifurcated edge portion 158, and with the end sections 149, 151 omitted, attachment blocks 249, 251 may be employed to fit attachment brackets and to receive the cotter key 157 therethrough.

In the latter described use of the drive rail, the ends of hollow chamber 162 may be open to atmospheric pressure, the resiliency of the rubber tube rail proving highly eflicient for effecting roller drive. It accordingly will be understood that the drive rail means of the present invention may be utilized with or without means for supplying air pressure, may be used with or without inflation, and the hollow chamber 162 may be closed or open to atmosphere.

When rollers 131 contact tubing 153, the upper and lower faces of the tubing chamber are urged toward one another by the pressure of the rollers thereon somewhat flattening the tubing externally, thus broadening the roller contacting surfaces for engaging the rollers with the resilient material. It will be understood that the air pressure when in chamber 162 will act in an opposite direction, that is, tend to force the opposite faces of tubing 153 apart thereby insuring a tight engagement between rollers 131 and tubing 153. It will be understood that the amount of air pressure in air chamber 162 will determine the degree of tightness of the engagemerit between rollers 131 and tubing 153.

Thus, it is apparent that drive rail means is provided having friction means which may be pressure adjustable whereby when it is desired to increase or decrease the frictional contact between the drive rail and the rollers the air pressure is either increased or decreased as the case may be. This adjustable characteristic will be particularly useful when the faces of tubing 153 become worn, in which case it will only be necessary to increase the amount of air pressure in air chamber 162 to maintain the same degree of tightness as when the tubing was not worn. Gauge 185 is preferably in plain sight of the operator of the cotton picking means whereby the operator will be cognizant of any air leak in the drive rail air system and may adjust the air pressure to maintain the proper pressure of drive rails 145 upon rollers 131.

Included in cotton picking machine 11 are a plurality of stripper means which strip the cotton from the spindles 123. Each of said stripper means preferably includes a pair of stripper bars 189 which engage spindles 123 and between which the spindles pass. Also included are stripper bar holders which hold bars 189 in place, the holders being removably secured to rib means 195 which are respectively attached to a post 197 to support the stripping means therefrom. Stripper bars 189 are preferably vertically alined and angularly disposed relative to the path of spindles 123, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Engagement of the endsof spindles 123 with a board 198 will cause the spindles to have a trailing disposition when they pass through stripper bars 189, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the present invention provides a new and novel drive rail structure which additionally enhances the efiiciency and utility of cotton picking means embodying the same, by providing through its resiliency a superior frictional tensional engagement with the rollers of the cotton picking spindles, insuring a more efficient spindle drive within the picking zone. Additionally, the new and, novel drive rail means of the present invention maybe adapted for ready adjustability of the drive tension exerted upon the spindle rollers by providing means for increasing or decreasing of air pressure for inflating the tube thereof so as to readily compensate for any variations or discrepancies which may arise as a result of wear either of the drive rail or of the spindle rollers, or both. It will also be observed that the new drive rail structure provides a structure which is readily replaceable should the occasion for such replacement arise, and for that purpose it is conveniently removable from and replaceable in the cotton picking unit. The drive rail tube per se may be readily separated, replaced from and with its holding and supporting means.

I claim:

1. In a cotton picking machine having a plurality of picking spindle assemblies, a pneumatic drive rail assembly for said spindle assemblies comprising a supporting bar having a bifurcated edge portion including opposed forks, a pair of end sections respectively attached to opposite ends of said supporting bar, said end sections being respectively provided with sockets therein, a hollow deflatable and inflatable rubber tubing having a rib formed integral therewith along the length thereof, said rib projecting substantially radially from said tubing and being removably mounted in said bifurcated edge portion to support said tubing therefrom, said forks embracing the opposite sides of the exterior of said rib and terminating adjacent the junction of said rib with said tubing, a pair of connector plugs respectively attached to opposite ends of said rubber tubing and projecting outward from the ends thereof, said plugs closing the ends of said hollow tubing to define an air chamber therein, the outward ends of said connector plugs being respectively removably mounted in the sockets in said end sections to support the ends of said rubber tubing, one of said end sections being provided with air inlet means, the connector plug mounted in said one of said end sections including an air passageway through said connector plug, said air passageway opening at one end into said air chamber and alined at the other end with said air inlet means whereby a conduit for air is provided for deflating or inflating said rubber tubing, air supply means coupled to said air inlet means for the introduction of air into said air chamber to inflate said rubber tubing, said rubber tubing when inflated being in frictional contact with said picking spindle assemblies for drive thereof.

2. In a cotton picking machine having a plurality of picking spindle assemblies, a pneumatic drive rail assembly for said spindle assemblies comprising a supporting bar having a bifurcated edge portion including opposed forks, a pair of end sections respectively attached to opposite ends of said supporting bar, said end sections being respectively provided with sockets therein, a hollow defiatable and inflatable rubber tubing having a rib formed integral therewith along the length thereof, said rib projecting substantially radially from said tubing and being removably mounted in said bifurcated edge portion to support said tubing therefrom, said forks embracing the opposite sides of the exterior of said rib and terminating adjacent the junction of said rib with said tubing, a pair of connector plugs respectively attached to opposite ends of said rubber tubing and projecting outward from the ends thereof, said plugs closing the ends of said hollow tubing to define an air chamber therein, the outward ends of said connector plugs being respectively removably mounted in the sockets in said end sections to support the ends of said rubber tubing.

3. In a cotton picking machine having a plurality of picking spindle assemblies, a pneumatic drive rail assembly for said spindle assemblies comprising a supporting bar having a bifurcated edge portion including opposed forks, an elongated hollow resilient tubing defining an air chamber, a resilient rib integrally formed with and projecting substantially radially from said hollow tubing along the length thereof, said resilient rib being removably mounted between the forks of said bifurcated edge portion to support said drive rail assembly, said forks embracing the opposite sides of the exterior of said rib and terminating adjacent the junction of said rib with said tubing, removable means securing said rib in said bifurcated edge portion and means fixedly securing opposite ends of said resilient tubing to said supporting bar.

4. In a cotton picking machine having a plurality of picking spindle assemblies, a drive rail assembly for said spindle assemblies comprising a supporting bar having a bifurcated edge portion including opposed forks, an elongated hollow resilient tubing defining an air chamber, a resilient rib integrally formed with and projecting substantially radially from said hollow tubing along the length thereof, said resilient rib being removably mounted between the forks of said bifurcated edge portion to support said drive rail assembly, said forks embracing the opposite sides of the exterior of said rib and terminating adjacent the junction of said rib with said tubing.

5. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a resilient rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, closure means closing the opposite ends of said hollow tube to define a closed air chamber within said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said tube adjacent its opposite ends being tapered to provide approach and departure sections for assisting spindle roller engagement with and disengagement from said tube, and means connected with one of said closure means for delivering air under pressure to said chamber.

6. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a resilient rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, closure means closing the opposite ends of said hollow tube to define a closed air chamber within said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said tube adjacent its opposite ends being tapered to provide approach and departure sections for assisting spindle roller engagement with and disengagement from said tube.

7. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a resilient rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, closure means closing the opposite ends of said hollow tube to define a closed air chamber within said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said tube adjacent one of its ends being tapered to provide an approach section for assisting spindle roller engagement with said tube.

8. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a resilient rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, closure means closing the opposite ends of said hollow tube to define a closed air chamber within said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib.

9. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a resilient rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, means closing the opposite ends of said hollow tube to define a closed air chamber within said tube, bar means including a bifurcate section, said section removably engaging opposite sides of the exterior of said rib.

10. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said tube adjacent its opposite ends being tapered to provide approach and departure sections for assisting spindle roller engagement with and disengagement from said tube.

11. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a rib integrally connected to and projecting laterally from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, bar means engaging the exterior of said rib.

12. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a rib integrally connected to and projecting substantially radially from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, bar means removably engaging said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said bar means including a bifurcated portion embracing and connected to opposed exterior portions of. said rib, said tube adjacent its opposite ends being tapered to provide approach and departure sections for assisting spindle roller engagement with and disengagement from said tube.

13. Drive rail means for use in spindle type cotton picking machines, comprising an elongated resilient, hollow tube, a rib integrally connected to and projecting laterally from said tube, said rib extending longitudinally substantially from end to end of said tube, bar means removably engaging the exterior of said rib and substantially coextensive in length with said rib, said bar means including a bifurcated portion embracing and connected to said rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,450 Rust Apr. 27, 1948 2,665,536 Rust Jan. 12, 1954 2,671,298 Fergason Mar. 9, 1954 2,699,638 Rust Jan. 18, 1955 

